Helping Ancaster families in need

Hamilton Food Share estimates that around 35,000 people in the city experience food insecurity, and Ancaster Community Services is hoping to reduce that number this holiday season.

Volunteers were helping to fill 90 Christmas hampers with food, baby products, clothing and unwrapped toys for local families in need today. More than 200 individuals will also receive help from the Christmas hamper program.

Ancaster Community Services executive director Karen Thomson says demand is up 13 per cent from last year, but many don’t consider residents in Ancaster as being in need. “Unfortunately, because it’s Ancaster most people think there’s a perceived affluence, which there is, obviously.”

“But, the problem is we have a lot of marginalized individuals that need help. So all our volunteers here are putting together food baskets as well as Christmas hampers which includes the Christmas dinner, as well as gifts for the family.”

Families will be picking up their Christmas hampers in the coming days.